Tritons celebrate triple play of regional titles

Esquimalt Tritons Women’s hockey team at the Canada West tournament in Winnipeg. They went undefeated in the tournament. Photo: PSP/Winnipeg.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer — Three Esquimalt Tritons teams crushed all competition on the ice and hardwood on the way to Canada West regional titles.

The women’s and senior men’s hockey and men’s basketball teams went undefeated in Canada West regional competitions while earning berths in upcoming Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) National Championship tournaments.

Women’s Hockey

Esquimalt’s women’s hockey team soundly dispatched all three opponents at the Canada West Regional Championships at CFB Winnipeg, Jan. 29–Feb. 3.

“We have put together an extremely talented team this year and we can’t wait to see how we stack up against the opposition at Nationals next month,” said Private (Pte) Breanna Leef, Tritons Manager and Player-Coach.

Esquimalt outscored Edmonton, Winnipeg and Cold Lake by scoring 42-4 over four games, culminating with an 11-1 win over Edmonton in the tournament final.

Acting Sub-Lieutenant (A/SLt) Frederique Gauthier, Tritons Assistant Captain and Centre, was voted Most Valuable Player of the championship game and tournament. She led the Tritons top forward line, including winger A/SLt Kayla Letouzel and Captain (Capt) Amanda Lauder, who is also an Assistant Captain.

The Tritons will travel to Trenton, Ont., March 20-25 to compete in the CAF Women’s Hockey Nationals.

Esquimalt Tritons men’s basketball team, who won six straight games to capture the 2023 CAF Sports Canada West regional championship.

Men’s Basketball

Esquimalt’s men’s basketball team registered lop-sided wins over Comox, Edmonton, Moose Jaw and then Cold Lake for a second time on Feb. 3 to collect the tournament title.

“We were at a two point lead at halftime [in Edmonton] and, led by Owen’s hard work on both sides of the floor, we regrouped and turned the tides,” said Josh Buck, Tritons coach.

Lieutenant (Navy) Owen Murphy, a Deputy Division Commander at Naval Fleet School (Pacific), helped push things a notch higher for the Tritons and captured the tournament and championship game Most Valuable Player honours.

In the tournament championship game versus Cold Lake, the Tritons trailed at halftime before Lt(N) Murphy helped rally Esquimalt to a 76-39 win. CFB Halifax is hosting the CAF championship tournament later this spring, but a precise date has yet to be announced.

Senior Men’s Hockey

The Senior Men’s hockey team earned their gold medals by defeating the Comox Silver Totems 6-0 in the final of the Canada West Old Timers Hockey Championship on Feb. 2 at CFB Cold Lake. The Tritons outscored their opponents 38-5 over six games.

“This is an amazing group of players with a mix of leadership, speed and great goaltending,” said Chief Petty Officer Second Class (CPO2) Tibbetts, Team Captain and forward, and Coxswain of Royal Canadian Navy submarine, HMCS Corner Brook.

The team’s two goaltenders, Petty Officer Second Class (PO2) Randy Collens and Major (Maj) Dustin Matheson, showed strong performances and allowed just four goals over four games against Edmonton, Winnipeg and Comox.

CPO2 Tibbets said an improved CAF Sports Strategy announced in January has helped gain support and more players on his team.

“More Personnel Support Programs [PSP] support allowed us to recruit from all units within the Base and grow and strengthen our program,” said CPO2 Tibbetts.

The Senior Tritons will host the CAF Old Timers Hockey Championship tournament in Esquimalt at Wurtele Arena on March 13–17.

All three Tritons hockey teams at the Base have captured Canada West regional hockey titles this year. The Tritons men’s hockey team defeated hosts CFB Edmonton 5-4 in their Canada West Regional tournament championship game on Jan. 20.

The Tritons men’s and women’s volleyball players are next to put their gold-medal dreams to the test. Both teams tipped off play in their Canada West tournaments over the weekend in Cold Lake.

Esquimalt Tritons Senior Men’s hockey team The Tritons were crowned tournament champions. Photo: PSP/Cold Lake.